Phillip made sure the door locked behind us, then said, “I know at least two other murdered vampires were regulars on the party circuit.”

My stomach tightened, a little flutter of excitement. “Do you think the rest of the … victims could be freak aficionados?”

He shrugged. “I can find out.” His face was still closed to me, blank. Something had turned off his switch. Maybe it was Rebecca Miles's small, starved hands. I know it hadn't done a lot for me.

Could I trust him to find out? Would he tell me the truth? Would it endanger him? No answers, just more questions, but at least the questions were getting better. Freak parties. A common thread, a real live clue. Hot dog.